This Thread Is To Be Used For All Discussions About HAL's On Board Smoking Policies

[Lizzie68]

We have a 25 day cruise booked for next November in a suite. As smokers, HAL will loose some serious $$$$ if we can't smoke on our veranda. I think when HAL sees how far out its expensive verandas and suites are filling up, its smoking policy will remain in effect.

 

Book another cruise line, people, please. You have so many options that we dont'!!!!

 

 

So you are telling us to leave HAL - a cruise line many of us have been with for years and built up our Mariner status so that we finally get benefits? And a cruise line that does the itineraries we like. So we have to give that up to allow smokers to smoke wherever? Well, I guess you know what I think of that. How about you contain your smoke instead - seems like the only fair option to me.

[NW Pacific]

You have sailed HAL for years and have Mariner Status, seems like you enjoyed your cruises with their policy for years

?

[Lizzie68]

You have sailed HAL for years and have Mariner Status, seems like you enjoyed your cruises with their policy for years

?

 

 

And your point is?:confused:

[sapper1]

You have sailed HAL for years and have Mariner Status, seems like you enjoyed your cruises with their policy for years

?

 

We are four star Mariners who have enjoyed our cruises but not the smoking policies.

[cruz chic]

We have a 25 day cruise booked for next November in a suite. As smokers, HAL will loose some serious $$$$ if we can't smoke on our veranda. I think when HAL sees how far out its expensive verandas and suites are filling up, its smoking policy will remain in effect.

 

Book another cruise line, people, please. You have so many options that we dont'!!!!

 

There are many other choices for you as well. Why not explore those? You have many other options just like non smokers. They will likely work much better then a cruise.

[hal lover]

Those who indulge in booze bother me. I do not like having to tolerate their drunkiness. However, the world does not revolve around me. Therefore, I tolerate.

[GeriatricNurse]

It has, but some ships are lax on enforcing this. Also, some ships still have built-in ash trays around the Promenade decks, so it confuses people.

 

Actually the ashtrays around the Promenade Decks are not "built-in", but are "hanging" on the rails! ;) Of course, these "hanging" ashtrays are easily "relocated" anywhere on the Promenade Decks to make it more convenient to those smokers preferred sitting/standing venue! :rolleyes:

Edited October 31, 2014 by GeriatricNurse

[DesertPesce7751]

Looking for what HAL offers that makes repeat loyal customers , although they do not agree with their smoking policy. Looking for first time cruise on HAL, Since there are multiple cruise lines with non smoking on balconies, was wondering what brings criusers back to HAL.

 

The itineraries.

[scm1848]

Actually, there are NO other choices for a cruise line where one can smoke on one's balcony. My point was that for all of you non-smokers, you have the choice of every cruise line in the world, but HAL. WOW!! IF you choose to book with HAL for other reasons, as many have expressed (Mariner status, itineraries, etc.) and you know it allows smoking on the balconies, why would you gripe????

 

It's not a perfect world, people. I, too, hate drunks and loud and rude people and tattoos and many things I tolerate on a cruise ship - and in every day life.

 

I am a retired professional person who knows that smoking is not healthy, but I do everything else that's pretty healthy. It is my one "sin" that I enjoy.

 

I think we all just need to be more tolerant and polite and forgiving and kind. The world has so many bigger problems, doesn't it really??!?!?!

[cruz chic]

Actually, there are NO other choices for a cruise line where one can smoke on one's balcony. My point was that for all of you non-smokers, you have the choice of every cruise line in the world, but HAL. WOW!! IF you choose to book with HAL for other reasons, as many have expressed (Mariner status, itineraries, etc.) and you know it allows smoking on the balconies, why would you gripe????

 

It's not a perfect world, people. I, too, hate drunks and loud and rude people and tattoos and many things I tolerate on a cruise ship - and in every day life.

 

I am a retired professional person who knows that smoking is not healthy, but I do everything else that's pretty healthy. It is my one "sin" that I enjoy.

 

I think we all just need to be more tolerant and polite and forgiving and kind. The world has so many bigger problems, doesn't it really??!?!?!

 

Yes, tattoo's and drunks are dangerous to your health, aren't they? There are plenty of vacations options where you could smoke to your hearts delight. Why not pick one of those just like you are telling the non smokers to do? If a smoker had a perfume allergy would they be tolerant of the perfume wearer? You say you hate drunks and tattoos? Is that your example of being tolerant or is that just non smokers that need to be tolerant? Just so you know I do not have tattoos, don't like them. I also don't walk around drunk.

[Host Walt]

Please stay on topic, which is HAL's on board smoking policy. Here's the initiating post:

 

We have established this thread to be the "go to" thread for all discussions pertaining to Holland America's on board smoking policies. This thread is intended to make it easier for all Cruise Critic members to discuss these policies and any future changes thereto.

 

Here's a link to HAL's policy summary Shipboard Life: Is smoking allowed on board? - Click on "Shipboard Life" and a drop down menu will appear. Click on "On Board Policies" in that menu and you'll see the last question is "Is smoking allowed on board?"

 

Here's the currently posted policy (as of August 9, 2014):

 

-----

Is Smoking Allowed On Board?

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. While smoking is not permitted in staterooms, guests are allowed to smoke on stateroom verandahs. Smoking is also permitted on certain other designated, outside decks. The designated smoking areas for all ships are as follows unless otherwise noted.

 

 

• Stateroom verandahs
  
• Casino (Active players only)
  
• Seaview Bar
  
• Outside Decks
  
  • Sports Deck
    
  • Observation Deck (ms Prinsendam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Westerdam, and ms Zuiderdam only)
    

   

 

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed and on stateroom verandahs. Electronic cigarettes are permitted in staterooms but not in other public areas of the ship other than on outside decks designated as smoking areas.

 

 

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation.

 

----

 

Reminders.

 

1. Our community guidelines continue to apply to this thread.

 

2. This is a forum for discussions of cruising and associated topics. It is not a forum for discussing the health, economics and public policy aspects of smoking, whether associated with cigarettes, pipes, cigars or controlled substances (marijuana).

 

3. Discussions of this approach to smoking posts and other board policies are off topic and will be removed. Please post discussions of this approach for smoking posts to this thread: Single Smoking Thread on the HAL Board - a Sticky

 

Thanks for your understanding and continued participation on the Cruise Critic forums.

[kennicott]

Those who indulge in booze bother me. I do not like having to tolerate their drunkiness. However, the world does not revolve around me. Therefore, I tolerate.

 

During all our days on the sea, working toward two years total now, I can only recall one drunken situation, that was a couple who got smashed every day and evening at the Pool bar. That was on Princess. We only do Princess, Regent and HAL. I don't even recall a situation where someone appeared obnoxious due booze other than that time. Normally folk have a little wine before dinner or a cocktail or two before or afterward. Of course we never been on a "Booze Cruise".

 

Have seen some unpleasant situations develop though due smoking which ruined the cruise for a number of people. That was on HAL but before they tightened up on their no smoking inside policy.

[hal lover]

I too have ever been on a booze cruise. However, I have experienced those who have over indulged on a few HAL cruises. I do not know that HAL has a policy on this issue or not. When I see it, I move away from it. This is an easy solution to those that are smoke sensitive as well. HAL has a smoking policy in place and for now, smoker's can smoke on their balcony. When this policy changes (and I'm sure that it will) the smoker's will go to another area and I hope that the non smokers will let it be. I do not know of any person who lives in a perfect world and to expect it on any vacation is expecting too much.

 

The one thing I know for certain is, that all on a cruise~love to cruise! For me, thats enough to be happy about!

[ScriptOhio]

We have a 25 day cruise booked for next November in a suite. As smokers, HAL will loose some serious $$$$ if we can't smoke on our veranda. I think when HAL sees how far out its expensive verandas and suites are filling up, its smoking policy will remain in effect.

 

Book another cruise line, people, please. You have so many options that we dont'!!!!

 

In all fairness to both sides (smokers and non smokers) I think the right thing for HAL to do is designate all the verandas on one side of the ship as "smoking permitted" and all the verandas on the other side as "nonsmoking". That just seems like the best of both worlds to me.

[Lizzie68]

We have a 25 day cruise booked for next November in a suite. As smokers, HAL will loose some serious $$$$ if we can't smoke on our veranda. I think when HAL sees how far out its expensive verandas and suites are filling up, its smoking policy will remain in effect.

 

Book another cruise line, people, please. You have so many options that we dont'!!!!

 

And HAL will lose some serious $$$s if they continue the balcony smoking. You are not the only ones who book longer cruises. Right now HAL is almost giving away cruises. The sensible solution is to stop balcony smoking for the benefit of all, and provide comfortable inside areas which are ventilated for the benefit of the smokers. The reality of the world today is that smokers make up a small percentage of the population.

[sail7seas]

hal lover

Those who indulge in booze bother me. I do not like having to tolerate their drunkiness. However, the world does not revolve around me. Therefore, I tolerate.

 

 

Really? :confused: You've seen that many bothersome drunks on HAL ships? I'm happy to say I find that to be a very rare experience.

 

During all our days on the sea, working toward two years total now, I can only recall one drunken situation, that was a couple who got smashed every day and evening at the Pool bar. That was on Princess. We only do Princess, Regent and HAL. I don't even recall a situation where someone appeared obnoxious due booze other than that time. Normally folk have a little wine before dinner or a cocktail or two before or afterward. Of course we never been on a "Booze Cruise".

 

Have seen some unpleasant situations develop though due smoking which ruined the cruise for a number of people. That was on HAL but before they tightened up on their no smoking inside policy.

 

I have been more bothered by verandah neighbors' second hand smoke than ever by drunkedness on HAL cruises. In over 80 HAL cruises, I can really only remember two specific instances where a person drank too much and got out of hand. Security took care of the situation, it ended in mere minutes and no more trouble. On the other hand, we have lost full use of our verandah due to non-stop smoking neighbors who made it impossible for us to enjoy our verandah for an entire cruise.

 

 

Edited November 1, 2014 by sail7seas

[sammiedawg]

I do not recall a single drunken passenger on any of the 35 cruises I've been on, not one. Not on HAL, Oceania, Princes, celebrity or Viking. Cigarette smoke is much more intrusive and bothersome.

[hal lover]

I can't say that I have seen "many" but I have been disturbed by a few.

 

I absolutely understand that having a smoker next to your balcony can spoil your experience.

 

Peace :)

[Sow There]

 

Really? :confused: You've seen that many bothersome drunks on HAL ships? I'm happy to say I find that to be a very rare experience.

I have been more bothered by verandah neighbors' second hand smoke than ever by drunkedness on HAL cruises. In over 80 HAL cruises, I can really only remember two specific instances where a person drank too much and got out of hand. Security took care of the situation, it ended in mere minutes and no more trouble. On the other hand, we have lost full use of our verandah due to non-stop smoking neighbors who made it impossible for us to enjoy our verandah for an entire cruise.

With 12 HAL cruises under our belt, I will say that we've seen a lot of folks who have been drinking too much but we can't recall anyone who has gotten "out of control."

 

It's just very uncomfortable when sitting at the dinner table when one or more of our tablemates imbibed a bit (or a lot) before joining us. It makes conversation rather awkward and, frankly, encourages us to excuse ourselves and try the Lido buffet. That has happened more than a few times.

 

I guess, because we're both non-smokers who have more years behind us than we'd like, and because we're originally from the NY area where we used public transportation a whole lot, we're used to smoking on trains, airplanes, restaurants, on cruise ships, etc., and thus don't find it so bad on a ship that it prevents us from enjoying the veranda experience. Conversely, when the prevailing winds while under way occasionally blow the smoke from the stack(s) through our veranda we have to leave the veranda. Should HAL prohibit using diesel fuel as well?

 

No, we don't particularly enjoy drifting cigarette smoke but it's hard to imagine that we would ever let it spoil our cruise. However trying to have a congenial dinner conversation with someone who has had too much to drink is no fun at all. Neither is breathing the belching exhaust of engines burning bunker C diesel fuel.

 

That's why I agree with the "live and let live" notion expressed earlier. Nothing will ever be perfect; not even a HAL cruise.

[sail7seas]

Surely no one is saying that because they find second hand smoke tolerable and it doesn''t bother them, it should not be bothersome to anyone else? Usually our reactions to various pollutants are involuntary. Each of us are unique to which irritants are more disturbing to us than others.

 

Edited November 1, 2014 by sail7seas

[DesertPesce7751]

 

Really? :confused: You've seen that many bothersome drunks on HAL ships? I'm happy to say I find that to be a very rare experience.

 

 

 

I have been more bothered by verandah neighbors' second hand smoke than ever by drunkedness on HAL cruises. In over 80 HAL cruises, I can really only remember two specific instances where a person drank too much and got out of hand. Security took care of the situation, it ended in mere minutes and no more trouble. On the other hand, we have lost full use of our verandah due to non-stop smoking neighbors who made it impossible for us to enjoy our verandah for an entire cruise.

 

 

 

Knock on wood! ;-) We were once on a Princess ship with a semi-exposed verandah. Drunk pax in the room just above left us a gift in the morning. So glad I was wearing my shoes when I "discovered" it.

[kazu]

Drunken passengers seem impossible?

 

Not so,

 

on one of our Maasdam cruises, there was a couple so loud and obnoxious and drunk that I could barely go out on the balcony. I did when they fell asleep or early in the morning when they were recovering but my time was limited, so it just goes to show that there are different things that can drive people off their balcony.

 

And when I say LOUD, I mean it.

 

So, would I have preferred a whiff of smoke that the wind takes away anyways? yes.

 

 

It doesn't disturb my solace on the balcony.

 

JMO and no need to tell me I'm crazy.

 

I've experienced it and I know which I would prefer.

 

and it was a Neptune suite btw.

Edited November 1, 2014 by kazu

[sail7seas]

Drunken passengers seem impossible?

 

Not so,

 

on one of our Maasdam cruises, there was a couple so loud and obnoxious and drunk that I could barely go out on the balcony. I did when they fell asleep or early in the morning when they were recovering but my time was limited, so it just goes to show that there are different things that can drive people off their balcony.

 

And when I say LOUD, I mean it.

 

So, would I have preferred a whiff of smoke that the wind takes away anyways? yes.

 

 

It doesn't disturb my solace on the balcony.

 

JMO and no need to tell me I'm crazy.

 

I've experienced it and I know which I would prefer.

 

and it was a Neptune suite btw.

 

 

 

Would you call drunkedness to the point of disturbing other guests common on HAL cruises?

 

You've experienced that 'frequently'?

[kazu]

Would you call drunkedness to the point of disturbing other guests common on HAL cruises?

 

You've experienced that 'frequently'?

 

Perhaps my post was unclear?

 

I am quite sure I said on ONE of our cruises.

 

I didn't say it was frequent if I recall correctly.

 

But I can assure you in this case, it was far more disturbing than a bit of drifting smoke.

 

That's my experience.

 

No one has to agree with it.

 

But I was there.

[sail7seas]

Perhaps my post was unclear?

 

I am quite sure I said on ONE of our cruises.

 

I didn't say it was frequent if I recall correctly.

 

But I can assure you in this case, it was far more disturbing than a bit of drifting smoke.

 

That's my experience.

 

No one has to agree with it.

 

But I was there.

 

:confused: Why all this?

 

It was a question. I checked to be sure I placed the question mark and

see I did.

 

I just find it remarkable this 'smoking thread' has turned into a drunken HAL cruiser thread. :D To me, that is about as on point as the perfume posts and overeating comments in a smoking thread especially given how little disruptive drunkedness most of us have ever seen on any HAL ship. Sure, we can pull a story or two out of our mind but it's hardly a pattern.